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lEx  Htbrts 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


'When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Sver'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


1858. 

C  E  ISr  T  R  A  I.  PARK 
1868. 


Meantime,  with  cheap  land,  and  the  pacific  disposition  of 
the  people,  everything  invites  to  the  arts  of  agriculture,  of 
gardening,  and  domestic  architecture.  Public  gardens  on  the 
scale  of  such  plantations  in  Europe  and  Asia,  are  now  unknown 
to  us.  There  is  no  feature  of  the  old  countries  that  strikes  an 
American  with  more  agreeable  surprise  than  the  beautiful 
gardens  of  Europe  ;  such  as  the  Boboli,  in  Florence,  the  Villa 
Borghese,  in  Rome,  the  Villa  d'Este,  in  Tivoli,  the  gardens  at 
Munich,  and  at  Frankfort  on  the  Elaine :  w<jrks  easily  imi- 
tated here,  and  which  might  well  make  tlie  land  dear  to  the 
citizen,  and  inflame  patriotism."' — Eiuersoit^  1844. 


DESCRIPTION 

OF  A 

PLAN  FOR  THE  IMPROVEMENT 

OF  THE 


"GREENSWARD." 


[F.    L.    OLMSTED      CALVERT    V  A  U  X.  ] 


NEW  YORK,  1858. 

[  R  E  P  R  I       T  E  D  1868.] 


DL5 


The  Aldim  Pm«.— Sutton,  Bowne  «&  Co.,  23  Liberty  St.,  N.  Y. 


Note,  1S68. 


The  following  Description  was  prepared  in  1858  to  accom- 
pany the  first  study  of  our  design  for  the  Central  Park, 
the  appended  woodcut  being  printed  with  the  Keport. 

A  few  notes  are  added  in  this  edition,  together  with  a  map 
showing  to  what  extent  the  intention  of  the  plan  has,  thus 
far,  been  realized  and  in  what  manner  the  study  has  been 
elaborated. 

O.  &  V. 


REPORT. 


A  GENERAL  survev  of  the  ground  allotted  to  tlie 
park,  taken  with  a  view  to  arrive  at  the  leading 
characteristics  Avhieh  present  themselves  Topographical 
as  all-iro  port  ant  to  T)e  considered  in  adapt- 
ing  the  actual  situation  to  its  purpose,  shows  us,  in 
the  first  place,  that  it  is  very  distinctly  divided  into 
two  tolerably  equal  portions,  which,  for  convenience 
sake,  may  be  called  the  upper  and  lower  parks. 

The  horizon  lines  of  the  upper  park  are  bold 
and  sweeping  and  the  slopes  have  great  breadth 
in  ahnost  every  aspect  in  which  they  may  The  upper 
be  contemplated.  As  this  character  is  p^""^- 
the  highest  ideal  that  can  be  aimed  at  for  a  park 
under  any  circumstances,  and  as  it  is  in  most 
decided  contrast  to  the  confined  and  formal  lines 
of  the  city,  it  is  desirable  to  interfere  with  it,  by 
cross-roads  and  other  constructions,  as  little  as  pos- 


6 


sible.  Formal  planting  and  architectural  effects, 
unless  on  a  very  grand  scale,  must  be  avoided ;  and 
as  nearly  all  tlie  groimd  between  the  Resei'voir  and 
lOGtli  Street  (west  of  the  Boston  road)  is  seen 
in  connection,  from  any  point  within  itself,  a  unity 
of  character  should  be  studiously  preserved  in  all 
the  gardening  details. 

The  lower  park  is  far  more  heterogeneous  in  its 
character  and  will  require  a  much  more  A^aried 

The  lower    treatment.    The  most  important  feature 
park.  landscape  is  the  long  rocky  and 

wooded  hill- side  lying  immediately  south  of  the 
Reservoir.  Inasmuch  as  beyond  this  point  there  do 
not  appear  to  be  any  leading  natural  characteristics 
of  similar  consequence  in  the  scenery,  it  will  be  im 
poi'tant  to  draw  as  much  attention  as  possible  to 
this  hill-side,  to  afford  facilities  for  rest  and  leisurely 
contemplation  upon  the  rising  ground  opposite,  and 
to  render  the  lateral  boinidaries  of  the  park  in 
its  vicinity  as  inconspicuous  as  possible.  The  cen- 
tral and  western  poi'tion  of  the  lower  park  is  an 
irregular  table-land;  the  eastern  is  composed  of  a 
series  of  graceful  undulations,  suggesting  lawn  or 
gardenesque  treatment.  In  the  extreme  south  we 
find  some  flat  alluvial  meadow;  but  the  general 
character  of  the  ground  is  rugged  and  there  are 
several  l)old,  rocky  bluffs,  that  help  to  give  individ- 
uality to  this  part  of  the  composition. 


Such  being  the  general  suggestions  that  our  sur- 
vey has  afforded,  it  becomes  necessary  to  consider 


7 


how  the  requirements  of  the  Commissioners,  as 
given  in  their  instructions,  may  Le  met  with  the 
least  sacrifice  of  the  characteristic  excellencies  of 
the  ground. 

Up  to  this  time,  in  planning  public  Avorks  for 
the  city  of  New  York,  in  no  instance  has  adequate 
allowance  l)een  made  for  its  increasing  preliminary 
population  and  business ;  not  even  in  the  considerations, 
case  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct,  otherwise  so  well 
considered.  The  City-Hall,  the  best  architectural 
work  in  the  State,  and  built  to  last  for  centuries, 
does  not  at  this  time  afford  facilities  for  one-third 
the  business  for  which  it  was  intended.  The  pres- 
ent Post-Office,  expensively  fitted  some  ten  years 
ago,  no  longer  answers  its  purpose,  and  a  new  one 
of  twice  its  capacity  is  imperatively  demanded. 
The  Custom-House,  expressly  designed  for  perma- 
nence and  constructed  to  that  end  at  enormous 
expense  less  than  twenty  years  ago,  is  not  half  large 
enough  to  accommodate  the  present  commerce  of 
the  city. 

The  explanation  of  this  apparently  bad  calcula- 
tion is  mainh'  given  with  the  fact  that,  at  every 
census  since  that  of  1860,  the  city's  rate  of  increase 
has  been  found  to  be  overrunning  the  rate  previously 
established. 

A  wise  forecast  of  the  future  gave  the  proposed 
park  the  name  of  Central.  Our  j^resent  chief  magis- 
trate, who  can  himself  remeniT)er  market-o^ardens 
below  Canal  street,  and  a  post-and-rail  fence  on  the 


8 


nortli  side  of  City-Hall  park,  warned  his  coadjutors, 
in  his  inaugural  message,  to  expect  a  great  and 
rapid  movement  of  population  toward  the  parts  of 
the  island  adjoining  the  Central  Park.  A  year 
hence,  five  city  railroads  will  bring  passengers  as 
far  up  as  the  park,  if  not  beyond  it.  Recent  move- 
ments to  transfer  the  steamboat-landings  and  rail- 
road stations,  although  as  yet  unsuccessful,  indicate 
changes  we  are  soon  to  expect. 

The  17,000  lots  withdrawn  from  use  for  build- 
ing purposes  in  the  park  itself,  will  greatly 
accelerate  the  occupation  of  the  adjoining  land. 
Only  twenty  years  ago.  Union  Square  was  "  out 
of  town twenty  years  hence,  the  town  will 
have  enclosed  the  Central  Park.  Let  us  consider, 
therefore,  what  will  at  that  time  be  satisfactory, 
for  it  is  then  that  the  desim  Avill  have  to  be 
really  judged. 

No  longer  an  open  suburb,  our  ground  will 
have  around  it  a  continuous  high  wall  of  brick, 
stone,  and  marble.  The  adjoining  shores  will  be 
lined  with  commercial  docks  and  warehouses ;  steam- 
boat and  ferry  landings,  railroad  stations,  hotels, 
theatres,  factories,  will  be  on  all  sides  of  it  and 
above  it ;  all  which  our  park  must  be  made  to  tit. 

The  demolition  of  Columbia  College,  and  the 
removal  of  the  cloistral  elms  which  so  long  enshad- 
owed  it;  the  pertinacious  demand  for  a  division 
of  Trinity  churchyard ;  the  numerous  instances  in 
which  our  old  graveyards  have  actually  been 
broken  up;  the  indirect  concession  of  the  most 


9 


important  space  in  the  City-Hall  park  for  the  pur- 
poses of  a  thoroughfare  and  the  further  contraction 
it  is  noAv  likely  to  suffer;  together  with  the  con- 
stant enormous  expenditure  of  the  city  and  sacri- 
fices of  the  citizens,  in  the  straightening  and  widen- 
ing of  streets,  are  all  familiar  facts,  that  teach  us 
a  lesson  of  the  most  pressing  importance  in  our 
present  duty.  To  its  application  we  give  the  first 
place  in  our  planning. 

Our  instructions  call  for  four  transverse  roads. 
Each  of  these  will  T)e  the  sole  line  of  communica- 
tion between  one  side  of  the  town  and  The  transverse 
the  other,  for  a  distance  equal  to  that 
between  Chambers  street  and  Canal  street.  If  we 
suppose  l)ut  one  crossing  of  Bi-oadway  to  be  possible 
in  this  interval,  we  shall  realize  what  these  trans- 
verse roads  are  destined  to  l)ecome.  InevitaT)ly 
they  will  l)e  crowded  thoroughfares,  having  nothing 
in  common  with  the  ])ark  ])ro])er,  l)ut  every  thing  at 
variance  with  those  agreeal)le  sentiments  ^^hicli  we 
should  wish  the  park  to  inspire.  It  will  not  be  pos- 
sible to  enforce  the  ordinary  i)olice  regulations  of 
public  parks  u})on  them.  They  must  be  constantly 
open  to  all  the  legitimate  traffic  of  the  city,  to  coal 
carts  and  butchers'  carts,  dust  carts  and  dung  carts ; 
engine  companies  ^vill  use  them,  those  on  one  side 
the  park  rushing  their  machines  across  it  with  fi-an- 
tic  zeal  at  every  alarm  from  the  other ;  ladies  and 
invalids  will  need  special  police  escort  for  crossing 
them,  as  they,  do  in  lower  Broadway :  eight  times 


3 


10 


in  a  single  circuit  of  tlie  park  will  they  oblige  a 
pleasure  drive  or  stroll  to  encounter  a  turbid  stream 
of  coarse  traffic,  constantly  moving  at  right  angles 
to  the  line  of  the  park  movement. 

The  transverse  roads  will  also  have  to  be  kept 
open,  while  the  park  proper  will  be  useless  for  any 
good  purpose,  after  dusk,  for  experience  has  shown 
that  even  in  London,  with  its  admirable  police 
arrangements,  the  ])ublic  cannot  be  secured  safe 
transit  through  large  open  spaces  of  ground  after 
nightfall. 

These  public  thoroughfares  will  then  require  to 
be  well  lighted  at  the  sides  and,  to  restrain  marau- 
ders pursued  by  the  police  from  escaping  into  the 
obscurity  of  the  park,  strong  fences  or  walls,  six  or 
eight  feet  high,  will  l>e  necessary.    A  public  road 

Foreign     1^^^^^  guardcd  ])asses  through  the  Kegent's 

examples,  p^^^.].  Loudou,  at  the  Zoological  Gardens. 
It  has  the  objection  tliat  the  fence,  with  its  necessary 
gates  at  every  crossing  of  the  park  drives,  roads  or 
paths,  is  not  only  a  great  inconvenience  Init  a  dis- 
agreeable object  in  the  landscape. 

To  avoid  a  similar  dishgurement  an  import- 
ant passage  across  the  garden  of  the  Tuileries  is 
closed  by  gates  at  night,  forcing  all  who  would 
otherwise  use  it  to  go  a  long  distance  to  the  right 
or  left. 

The  form  and  position  of  the  Central  Park  are  pe- 
culiar in  respect  to  this  difficulty,  and  such  that  pre- 
cedent in  dealing  with  it  is  rather  to  be  sought  in 
the  long  and  narrow  Boulevards  of  some  of  the  old 


11 


Continental  cities  of  Europe,  than  in  the  broad  parks 
with  which,  from  its  area  in  acres,  we  are  most  nat- 
urally led  to  compare  it.  The  Boulevards  referred 
to  are,  ho^vever,  generally  used  only  as  walks, 
not  as  drives  or  places  of  ceremony.  In  frequent 
instances,  in  order  not  to  interrupt  their  alleys,  the 
streets  crossing  them  are  made  in  the  form  of  cause- 
ways and  carried  over  on  high  arches.  This,  of 
course,  destroys  all  landsca})e  effect,  since  it  puts 
an  abrupt  limit  to  the  view.  Some  expedient  is 
needed  for  the  Central  Park  by  which  the  conve- 
nience of  the  arrangement  may  l)e  retained,  while 
the  objection  is  as  far  as  possible  avoided. 

In  the  plan  herewith  offered  to  the  Commission, 
each  of  the  transverse  roads  is  intended  to  be  sunk 
so  far  below  the  general  surface  that  the  The  present 
park  drives  may,  at  every  necessary  point 
of  intersection,  be  carried  entirely  over  it,  AN'ithout 
any  obvious  elevation  or  divergence  from  their  most 
attractive  routes.  The  banks  on  each  side  will  be 
walled  up  to  the, height  of  about  seven  feet,  thus 
forming  the  protective  barrier  required  by  police 
considerations,  and  a  little  judicious  planting  on 
the  tops  or  slopes  of  the  banks  above  these  walls 
will,  in  most  cases,  entirely  conceal  both  the  roads 
and  the  vehicles  movino-  in  them,  from  the  view  of 
those  walking  or  driving  in  the  jjark."^'* 

If  the  position  which  has  just  been  taken  with 
regard  to  the  necessity  for  permanently  open  trans- 


*  Note,  1868.— In  execution,  the  four  traflSc  roads  have  been  carried  through  the  Park 
in  the  manner  suggested. 


12 


verse  thoroughfares  is  found  to  be  correct,  it  follows 
necessarily  that  the  700  acres  allowed  to  the  new 
park  must,  in  the  first  instance,  be  siibdivided  defi- 
nitely, although  it  is  to  be  hoped  to  some  extent 
invisibly,  into  five  separate  and  distinct  sections, 
only  connected  here  and  there  by  roads  crossing 
them;  and  if  the  plan  of  making  these  thoroughfares 
by  sunken  roads  is  approved,  they  will,  as  it  appears 
to  us,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  have  to  be 
laid  down  somewhat  on  tlie  lines  indicated  on  the 
plan.  If  so,  tlie  [)roblem  to  l^e  solved  is  narrowed 
in  its  dimensions,  and  the  efforts  of  the  designer 
can  be  no  long^er  directed  to  an  an^aup-ement 
that  shall  agreeably  use  up  the  space  of  700 
acres  allotted,  ])ut  to  making  some  plan  that  shall 
have  unity  of  effect  as  a  whole,  and  yet  avoid  colli- 
sion in  its  detailed  features  with  the  intersecting 
lines  thus  su<j:<i:ested.  It  is  on  this  basis  that  the 
present  plan  has,  in  the  first  instance,  been  founded. 
If  the  sunken  transverse  roads  were  omitted,  the 
design  woidd  not  be  less  comple1;e  in  character;  but 
it  is,  on  the  other  hand,  so  laid  out  that  the  trans- 
verse thoroughtares  do  not  interfere  materially  with 
its  general  or  detailed  effect. 

x\fter  having  planned  the  park  drives  agreeably 
to  these  views,  we  ol)served  that  three  additional 
moderately  direct,  transverse  roads  had  sji^face  trans- 
occurred.  These  will  aftbrd  facilities  for  ^'^^^^^^^^s. 
crossing  the  park  to  all  vehicles  of  classes  which  it 
will  be  proper  to  admit  upon  them,  such  as  hackney 
coaches  and  all  private  carriages;  and  thus  seven 


13 


Fifth  Aveuue. 


transverse  roads  will  be  really  provided  to  Ije  used 
during  daylight.  Four  roads  will  prol)ahly  be 
amply  adequate  for  the  night  ti'affic  needing  to 
cross  the  park;  but  it  might  be  questioned  if  this 
number  would  be  sufficient  during  the  day. 

As  it  is  not  proposed  that  the  park  j)roper  shall 
be  lig^hted  at  nio^ht,  it  is  well  worth  while 

~     ,  .  1  •   1      •      '^'^'^  exterior. 

to  consider  if  the  advantages  which  it 

offers  as  an  interesting  promenade  may  not  yet 

in  some  ^vay  be  obtained  at  night. 

The  ordinance  that  regulates  the  width  of  Fifth 
avenue,  provides  for  an  o})en  space  of  fifteen  feet  on 
each  side,  exclusive  of  that  required  for  the 
sidewalks  and  the  roadway ;  consequently, 
a  space  of  thirty  feet  in  width  is  iUready  pre]  )ared  for  on 
this  side  of  the  park  for  its  Avliole  length.  Ei-hth  aveuue 
On  the  Eio'hth  avenue  a  similar  arrancre-  Ka^''^^^^- 
ment  may  pro1)ably  be  eft*ected,andas  there  would  be 
no  occasion  to  ])ack  up  carts  against  the  park  side 
of  the  avenue,  it  is  feasible  to  carry  the  railway 
tracks  close  to  the  edsce  of  the  walk,  thus  leaviiio;  a 
clear  space  for  carriages  on  the  opposite  or  building 
side  and  making  the  access  to  the  park  side  more 
clean  and  convenient.'^"' 

On  the  southern  boundary  it  is  not  desirable  to 
reduce  the  already  moderate  width  of  the  carriage 
way.  It  is,  on  the  other  hand,  a  ques-  and'o^ie^nS? 
tion  whether,  as  the  streets  and  the  park 

*  Note,  1868. — The  sidewalks  have  been  treated  in  execution  as  proposed,  but  the 
suggestion  in  regard  to  the  railroad  has  not  yet  been  carried  out.  In  the  Brooklyn 
Park  however  the  intended  arrangement  has  been  fully  realized. 


14 


both,  in  reality,  are  the  property  of  one  owner — 
the  City — this  street  should  not  be  treated  in  a 
similar  manner.  It  will,  from  its  position,  be  in 
time  rather  crowded  with  traffic,  and  will,  there- 
fore, have  some  claim  to  be  widened  on  this  ground 
alone.  As  a  question  of  beauty  of  arrangement  for 
the  park  itself,  however,  it  is  conceived  that  if  by 
this  manao^ement  a  more  statelv  character  than  could 
otherwise  be  obtained  would  })e  secured  to  the  outer 
boundaries  of  the  park,  it  would  be  cheaply  purchased 
at  the  sacrifice  of  a  tew  feet  at  the  south  end,  off  its 
present  length  of  two  and  a  half  miles.  In  riding 
along  any  of  the  avenues,  the  eye  cannot  fail  to  be 
struck  with  the  great  difference  in  dignity  of  effect, 
between  such  streets  as  Fourteenth  and  Twenty- 
Third,  and  those  intermediate,  and  it  w^ould  be  a 
matter  of  regret  that  a  source  of  effect  so  easily 
obtained,  should  be  lost  in  connection  with  the 
grand  approaches  to  the  park,  because  it  does  not 
happen  that  its  boundaries  at  present  coincide  with 
the  wide  streets  laid  out  on  the  working  plan  upon 
which  the  city  is  being  constructed.  If,  moreover, 
the  advantage  of  the  evening  promenade  is  allowed 
to  be  of  importance,  we  should  be  sorry  to  dispense 
with  this  section  of  it,  which  ^vould  be  the  only 
portion  having  a  direct  communication  from  the 
Sixth  and  Seventh  avenues. 

For  the  purpose  of  concealing  the  houses  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  from  the  park,  and  to 
insure  an  umbrageous  horizon  line,  it  is  Treatment  of 
proposed,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  plan,  to  boundary  unes. 


15 


plant  a  line  of  trees  all  around  the  outer  edge  of 
the  park,  between  the  sidewalk  and  the  roadway.* 
On  approaching  the  Fifth  and  Eighth  avenue  en- 
trances, this  line  of  trees  along  Fifty-Ninth  street 
will  come  prominently  into  view,  and  have  a  hand- 
some et^ect,  if  the  street  is  widened ;  l)ut  if  Fifty- 
Ninth  street  is  allowed  to  remain  as  a  narrow  street, 
it  is  feared  that  it  will  be  difficult  to  prevent  this 
boundary  line  of  the  park  from  haA^ng  a  contracted 
and  somewhat  mean  appearance.  Hence,  we  have 
thought  it  proper  in  our  plan  to  assume  the  ad- 
vantage and  practicability  of  this  arrangement  to 
be  conceded ;  but,  if  this  should  not  1  )e  the  case,  it 
will  be  readily  perceived  that  it  forms  no  essential 
part  of  our  design.f 

On  the  space  originally  j)rovided  for  a  sidewalk 
on  the  park  side  of  the  streets  and  avenues,  there 
will,  in  any  case,  be  room  for  such  a  line  of  trees  as 
we  have  proposed.  The  continuous  exterior  mall 
should  by  no  means  be  given  up,  even  though  it 
cannot  be  made  in  all  parts  as  wide  as  we  have 
proposed.  At  many  jioints,  and  frequently  for 
quite  long  distances,  it  will  form  an  elevated  terrace, 
commanding  extensive  views  over  the  park,  of  the 
most  interesting  character,  and  a  mere  j)arapet-wall 
three  or  four  feet  high,  will,  in  such  cases,  be  all- 
sufficient  for  the  safety  of  promenaders  and  the 
protection  of  the  park  from  interlopers. 

*  Note,  1868.— This  feature  of  the  design  has  been  partially  carried  into  execution 
and  is  in  progress  from  year  to  year,  as  the  street  and  avenue  grades  become  settled. 

t  Note,  1868. — In  execution,  59th  street  has  been  treated  as  here  recommended. 


16 


The  finest  approacli  from  the  city  is  certain 
to  be  along  the  Fifth  avenue,  and  it  has  been 

Fifth  avenue  thought  necessary  to  view  with  special 
entrance.  ^^^^  -^^le  angle  of  the  park  first  reached 
from  this  direction,  because  it  will  be  generally 
felt  that  immediate  entrance  should  be  had  at 
this  point."^ 

The  grade  of  the  avenue  has  l)een  established 
so  higli  that  considerable  fiUing-in  would  be  re- 
quired to  avoid  a  rapid  descent,  l)ut  directly  this 
single  difliculty  is  overcome,  the  ground  l)eyond 
Jias  great  advantages  for  the  purpose  of  a  dignified 
entrance  to  tlie  ])ark.  A  massive  rock  that  will  be 
found  in  connection  with  this  requisite  made-ground, 
ofters  a  sufiiciently  large  natural  ol)ject  to  occupy 
the  attention,  and  will  at  once  I'educe  the  artificial 
feature  to  a  j^osition  of  minor  importance.  If, 
next,  we  stand  u])on  that  portion  of  the  rock  which 
(a  little  noi'th  of  the  large  cherry-tree)  is  at  grade- 
height,  we  find  that  thei*e  is  another  rocky  liillock 
Avithin  a  short  distance,  in  the  direction  a  visitor 
to  tlie  park  would  most  naturally  pursue — that 
is  to  say,  towards  the  centre  of  the  park.  This 
can  be  easily  reached  ])y  slightly  raising  the  in- 
termediate ground;  by  then  sweeping  to  the  right, 
the  natural  conformation  of  the  surface  ofters 
an  easy  ascent  (l)y  the  existing  cart-way  over  Sixty- 
Third  street)  to  a  plateau  (two  rods  west  of  the 
poAvder-house),  directly  connected  with  the  exten- 


*  Note.  1S6S. — We  si;bmittecl  a  plan  for  a  much  needed  amplification  in  this  approach 
during  the  earlier  stage!*  of  the  work,  but  the  s^nggesti'on  has  not  yet  been  acted  on. 


17 


sive  table-land  wliicli  occupies  tlie  centre  of  the 
lower  half  of  the  park. 

From  this  plateau  (now  occupied  mainly  by  the 
nursery)  a  view  is  had  of  nearly  all  the  park  up  to 
the  Reservoir,  in  a  northerly  direction;  and  on 
looking  to  the  south  and  west,  we  perceive  that 
there  are  natural  approaches  from  these  directions, 
which  suggest  that  we  have  arrived  at  a  suitable 
point  of  concentration  for  all  approaches  which 
may  be  made  from  the  lower  part  of  the  city  to  the 
interior  of  the  park. 

Vista  Rock,  the  most  prominent  2)oint  in  the  laud- 
scape  of  the  lower  park,  here  first  comes  distinctly 
into  view,  and  fortunately  in  a  direction 

T  T  The  Avenue. 

diagonal  to  tlie  boundary  lines,  trom 
which  it  is  desiral)le  to  ^^'ithdraw  attention  in  every 
possible  way.  We  therefore  accept  this  line  of  view  as 
aifording  an  all-sufficient  motive  to  our  further  proce- 
dure. Although  averse  on  general  principles  to  a 
symmetrical  arrangement  of  trees,  we  consider  it  an 
essential  feature  of  a  metropolitan  park,  that  it  should 
contain  a  grand  promenade,  level,  S23acious,  and 
thoroughly  shaded.  This  result  can  in  no  other  way 
be  so  completely  arrived  at,  as  by  an  avenue,  which 
in  itself  even,  exclusive  of  its  adaptability  for  this 
purpose,  contains  so  many  elements  of  grandeur  and 
magnificence,  that  it  should  be  recognized  as  an  es- 
sential feature  in  the  arrangement  of  any  large  park. 
The  objection  to  which  it  is  liable  is  that  it  divides 
the  landscape  into  two  parts,  and  it  is  therefore  de- 


18 


sirable  to  decide  at  wliat  point  this  necessity  can  be 
submitted  to  with  the  least  sacrifice  to  the  general 
effect.  The  whole  topographical  character  of  the 
park  is  so  varied,  so  suggestive  of  natural  treatment, 
so  picturesque,  so  individual  in  its  characteristics, 
that  it  would  be  contrary  to  common  sense  to  make 
the  avenue  its  leading  feature,  or  to  occupy  any 
great  extent  of  ground  for  this  special  purpose.  It 
must  be  subservient  to  the  general  design,  if  that 
general  design  is  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  pre- 
sent configuration  of  the  ground,  and  we  have  there- 
fore thought  that  it  should,  so  far  as  possible,  be 
complete  in  itself,  and  not  become  a  portion  of  any 
of  the  leading  drives.  There  is  no  dignity  of  effect 
to  be  produced  by  driving  through  an  avenue  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  long,  unless  it  leads  to,  and  becomes 
an  accessory  of,  some  gi-and  architectural  structure, 
which  itself,  and  not  the  avenue,  is  the  ultimatum  of 
interest.  An  avenue  for  drivins:  in  should  be  two 
or  three  miles  long,  or  it  will  be  petite  and  disap- 
pointing. We  have  therefore  thought  it  most  desi- 
rable to  identify  the  idea  of  the  avenue  with  the 
promenade,  for  which  purpose  a  quarter  of  a  mile  is 
not  insuflicient,  and  we  can  find  no  better  place  for 
such  a  grand  mall,  or  open  air  hall  of  reception,  as  we 
desire  to  have,  than  the  ground  before  us.'^ 

In  giving  it  this  prominent  position,  we  look  at 
it  in  the  light  of  an  artificial  structure  on  a  scale  of 

The  prome-  magnitude  commensurate  Avith  the  size 
nade.  park,  and  intend  in  our  design  that 


*  Note.  18G8. — In  execution,  this  avenue  has  been  planted  with  elms,  as  suggested 
later  in  the  i-eport,  and  is  now  called  "  The  Mall." 


19 


it  should  occupy  the  same  position  of  relative 
importance  in  the  general  arrangement  of  the  plan 
that  a  mansion  should  occupy  in  a  park  prepared  for 
private  occupation.  The  importance  that  is  justly 
connected  with  the  idea  of  the  residence  of  the 
owner  in  even  the  most  extensive  private  grounds, 
finds  no  parallel  in  a  public  park,  however  small,  and 
we  feel  that  the  interest  of  the  visitor,  who,  in  the 
best  sense  is  the  true  owner  in  the  latter  case,  should 
concentrate  on  features  of  natural,  in  preference  to 
artificial,  beauty.  Many  elegant  buildings  may  be 
appropriately  erected  for  desirable  purposes  in  a 
public  park,  but  we  conceive  that  all  such  archi-, 
tectural  structures  should  be  confessedly  subservient 
to  the  main  idea,  and  that  nothing  artificial  should 
be  obtruded  on  the  view  as  an  ultimatum  of  interest. 
The  idea  of  the  park  itself  should  always  be  upper- 
most in  the  mind  of  the  beholder.  Holding  this 
general  principle  to  be  of  considerable  importance, 
we  have  preferred  to  place  the  avenue  where  it  can 
be  terminated  appropriately  at  one  end  with  a  land- 
scape attraction  of  considerable  extent,  and  to  relieve 
the  south  entrance  with  only  so  much  architectural 
treatment  as  may  give  the  idea  that  due  regard  has  been 
paid  to  the  adornment  of  this  princij)al  promenade, 
without  interfering  with  its  real  character. 

This  avenue  may  be  considered  the  central  feature 
in  our  plan  for  laying  out  the  lower  park,  and  the 
other  details  of  arrangement  are  more  or  less  designed 
in  connection  with  it. 

To  the  west  is  the  parade  ground,  containing  about 


20 


25  acres,  tliat  may,  at  a  moderate  expense,  be  levelled 
and  made  suitable  for  its  purpose;"^'  and 

,  •    1  X  ^  nil  ground. 

also  some  eig-nt  or  ten  acres  oi  broken 
ground,  that  will  be  more  or  less  available  for  mili- 
tary exercises.  Sncli  a  broad  open  plane  of  well- 
kept  grass  would  l)e  a  refreshing  and  agreeable 
feature  in  the  genei'al  design,  and  would  bear  to  be 
of  much  greater  extent  than  is  here  shown,  if  the  lot 
were  of  a  different  shaj^je ;  but  under  the  circumstances, 
25  acres  seems  as  much  as  can  well  be  spared  for 
the  purpose.  A  military  entrance  from  Eighth 
avenue  is  proposed  to  be  made  at  Sixty-Ninth 
street,  which  has  been  already,  at  considerable  ex- 
pense, cut  through  the  rock  at  this  point,  and  offers 
a  suggestion  for  a  i)ictiu'esque  approach,  with  a  port- 
cullis gate,  and  with  the  main  park  drive  carried 
over  it  at  a  hia^her  level. 

The  natural  southern  boundary  of  the  table-land 
occupied  by  the  parade  ground  is  a  rapid  slope 
that  occurs  al)out  in  the  line  of  Sixty- 

^.      ,  .        ,  .       T  .      .  T  Playground. 

Sixth  street;  ni  this  slope  it  is  proposed 
to  sink  one  of  the  transverse  roads ;  and  on  a  level 
plane  below  it,  stretching  to  the  south,  a  playground 
about  ten  acres  in  extent  is  located,  as  indicated  on 
the  plan.  We  have  thought  it  very  desirable  to  have 
a  cricket  ground  of  this  size  near  the  southern  boun- 
dary of  the  park,  and  not  far  from  the  Sixth  and  Eighth 

Note,  1868.— A  Parade  ground  was  demanded  by  the  schedule  of  instructions  furnished 
to  competitors.  In  execution  this  open  space  under  the  name  of  "  The  Green  "  has  been 
retained  as  a  prominent  feature  of  the  design,  but  has  not  been  and  is  not  intended  to  be 
used  for  military  exercises. 


21 


avenue  railroads,  wliicli  offer  tlie  most  rapid  means  of 
access  from  the  lower  part  of  tlie  city.*'^ 

In  this  playground  sites  are  suggested  for  two 
buildings  of  moderate  dimensions :  one  for  visitors 
to  view  the  games,  which  would  be  appropriately 
located  on  a  large  rock  that  overlooks  the  ground ; 
and  the  other  for  the  players,  at  the  entrance  from 
the  transverse  road,  by  which  an  exit  could  he 
obtained  from  the  playground  after  the  other  gates 
were  closed.f  Only  one  mass  of  rock  of  any  consid- 
erable magnitude  would  require  to  })e  blasted  out 
for  the  purpose  of  adapting  this  ground  to  its  intended 
purpose ;  its  position  is  indicated  on  the  plan  l)y  a 
red  cross,  and  the  object  of  its  removal  will  l)e  seen 
on  examination.  This  part  of  the  design  is  illus- 
trated in  study  Iso.  2.  The  ground  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  park  it  is  proposed  to  fill  in 
sufficiently  to  make,  on  the  j^lan  indicated,  an  agree- 
able Eighth  avenue  entrance. 

To  the  south-east  of  the  promenade,  and  ])et^veen 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth  avenue  entrances,  it  is  proposed 
to  form  a  lake  of  irreo^ular  shape,  and  with 

The  lower  lake.  _   ^  ^     ^  rr^T  - 

an  area  oi  8  or  9  acres,  ihis  arrano;e- 
ment  has  been  suggested  by  the  j^resent  natui'e  of  the 
ground,  which  is  low  and  somewhat  s^vampy.  It  is 
conceived  that,  by  introducing  such  an  ornamental 
sheet  of  water  into  the  composition  at  this  point. 


*  The  playground  has  been  arranged  as  here  recommended. 

t  Note,  1868.— The  foundation  for  this  building  was  laid  during  the  last  season. 


22 


the  picturesque  effect  of  the  bold  bluffs  that  will 
run  down  to  its  edge  and  overhang  it,  must  be  much 
increased;"^'  and  that  by  means  of  such  a  natural 
boundary,  this  rocky  section  of  the  park  will  be  ren- 
dered more  retired  and  attractive  as  a  pleasant  walk 
or  lounge.  The  proposed  effect  of  this  part  of  the 
design,  as  it  will  appear  from  the  Fifth  avenue  en- 
ti-ance,  is  indicated  on  study  No.  l.f 

To  the  south-east  of  the  promenade  will  be  found 
that  portion  of  the  park  in  which  the  present  Arsenal 
is  situated.    This  2:round  is  undulatinsr 

,  1  1     •      •        1  T       Ml     The  Arsenal. 

and  agreeable  m  its  chararacter,  and  will 
offer  pleasant  opportunities  for  shady  walks.  The 
Arsenal  itself,  although  at  present  a  very  unattrac- 
tive structure,  and  only  tolerably  built,  contains  a 
great  deal  of  room  in  a  form  that  adapts  it  very 
well  to  the  j^urposes  of  a  museum.  It  is  proposed, 
therefore,  to  improve  its  external  appearance  so 
far  as  may  be  necessary,  without  changing  its 
shape  or  usefulness,  or  going  to  any  great  expense; 
and  as  it  occurs  rather  near  the  Fifth  avenue  en- 
trance, and  is,  therefore,  likely  to  occupy  too  con- 
siderable a  share  of  attention  if  left  exposed  to  view 
from  the  south,  it  is  intended,  as  early  as  possible, 

*  Note,  1868.— An  improvement  of  the  soil  and  of  the  skylines  of  this  rocky  section, 
contemplated  at  the  time  the  plan  was  made,  was  last  year  carried  into  execution,  by 
means  of  earth  filling  on  the  more  prominent  summit  levels. 

+  Note  1868.— The  original  requirements  of  the  Commission  in  regard  to  boundary 
and  expense  necessitated,  in  the  first  study,  a  cramped  and  unsatisfactory  arrangement 
of  the  entrances  on  Fifty -ninth  street.  We  have  since  made  studies  for  the  amplification 
of  each  of  the  principal  approaches,  and  the  necessary  legislation  in  regard  to  the  entrance 
at  8th  Avenue  and  5!)th  street  having  been  obtained  at  the  instance  of  the  property 
owners  in  the  neighborhood,  this  improvement  is  shown  on  the  map  of  the  Park, 
dated  1868. 


23 


to  plant  in  its  vicinity  forest-trees,  calculated  to 
become  handsome  specimens  of  large  size,  and 
that  will,  after  a  few  years,  prevent  the  mnsemn 
from  attracting  an  undue  share  of  attention  in  the 
general  landscape. 

To  the  east  of  the  promenade,  there  will  be  a  half- 
mile  stretch  of  lawn  and  trees  extending  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  Fifty-Ninth  street  to  Seventy- 

T  11-         '^^    ^  t  Music-Hall. 

Second  street,  and  this  AVill  be  tlie  dress 
ground  of  the  park ;  and  in  a  prominent  position 
on  this  ground,  and  immediately  connected  with  the 
grand  mall,  the  site  for  a  music-hall,  called  for  in  our 
instructions,  has  been  set  apart;  and  we  have 
suggested  that  a  palm-house  and  large  conserva- 
tory should  be  added  to  this  music-hall  when- 
ever it  is  built.* 

This  site  is  recommended  because  it  is  conspicuous 
without  being  obtrusive,  and  is  easy  of  access  from 
the  promenade  and  from  one  of  the  leading  avenue 
entrances;  while,  to  the  north,  it  commands  from 
its  terraces  and  verandas  the  finest  views  that 
are  to  be  obtained  in  the  lower  part  of  the  park. 
It  also  overlooks  the  site  which  we  have  selected 
as  most  appropriate  for  the  flower-garden  called 
for  in  our  instructions;  and  this  we  consider  a 
decided  advantage,  as  the  most  attractive  view  of  a 
flower-garden  is  from  some  point  above  it,  that  will 


*  Note  1868. — This  site  is  now  occupied  by  a  building  which  we  designed  for  a  Ladies' 
Restaurant,  sites  on  a  somewhat  larger  scale  being  reserved  for  a  music-hall  and  con- 
servatory, which  yet  remain  to  be  erected. 


enable  the  visitor  to  take  in  at  a  glance  a  general 
idea  of  the  effect  aimed  at. 

The  garden  is  located  in  low  ground  to  the  north- 
east of  the  promenade,  and  close  npon  the  line  of  Fifth 

The  Flower  avenue,  the  grade  of  which  opposite  the 
Garden.  ccntrc  of  tlic  garden  is  about  twenty  feet 
above  the  present  level  of  the  ground ;  this,  for  the 
reasons  above  stated,  we  consider  a  desideratum,  and 
have  suggested  that  over  the  arcade  or  veranda  that 
we  propose  should  be  ]:)uilt  against  the  east  wall  of 
the  park  in  connection  witli  the  garden,  a  structure 
should  be  erected,  with  an  entrance  on  a  level  with 
the  avenue,  so  as  to  give  an  opportunity  for  a 
view  of  the  ga^'den,  both  from  this  level  and  from 
another  story  above  it.  This  idea  is  not,  of 
course,  necessary  to  the  design,  and  the  sketch  sub- 
mitted is  merely  a  suggestion  to  show  what  may 
be  done  at  some  future  time.* 

The  plan  of  the  flower-garden  itself  is  geometrical; 
and  it  is  surrounded  by  an  irregular  and  less  formal 
plantation  of  shrubs,  that  will  serve  to  connect  it 
with  the  park  proper.  In  the  centre  it  is  proposed 
to  construct  a  large  l)asin  for  a  fountain,  with  a  high 
jet ;  other  smaller  jets  are  ])repared  for,  as  indicated ; 
and,  in  connection  with  the  north  wall,  which  will 
be  somewhat  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  beyond, 
it  is  proposed  to  arrange  some  such  wall  fountain  as 


*  Note  1868.— While  the  construction  of  the  park  was  in  progress  Messrs  Parsons  & 
Co.,  who  held  a  contract  granted  by  the  Commissioners,  employed  us  to  develop  this 
general  idea  in  the  form  of  a  two-stoi-y  glass  building,  of  which  the  upper  section  is  the 
conservatoiy  proper  and  the  lower  portion  is  proposed  to  be  used  for  the  exhibition  and 
sale  of  flowers,  but  the  design  has  not  yet  been  executed. 


25 

the  celebrated  one  of  Trevi.  Tlie  water  for  this 
fountain  will,  in  the  present  case,  be  supplied  from 
the  skating  pond  and  also  from  the  Reservoir,  and 
will  fall  into  a  semi-circular  marble  basin,  with  a 
paved  floor.  Such  a  fountain  is  out  of  place  unless 
it  can  be  furnished  with  an  ample  supply  of  water ; 
but,  in  the  position  assigned  to  it  on  our  ];)lan,  there 
will  be  no  difficulty  in  ]3rocuring  all  the  water  that 
can  be  required  for  the  purpose ;  and  it  seems  desir- 
able, therefore,  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
offered,  for  the  effect  of  a  sculptured  fountain  of  this 
sort  is  quite  distinct  from  that  produced  by  a  jet  d'eau. 

A  colored  plan  of  this  part  of  the  design  is  illus- 
trated to  an  enlarged  scale  on  study  No.  11. 

To  the  north-west  of  the  promenade  is  a  slope, 
offering  an  a})propriate  site  for  a  summer-house,  that 
in  such  a  situation  should  have  some  architectural 
pretension ;  and  further  to  the  west,  near  Eighth  ave- 
nue, is  a  stretch  of  table-land,  terminated  by  an  ab- 
rupt rocky  descent,  that  suggests  itself  as  well  suited 
for  a  Casino  or  refreshment  house."^ 

From  the  upper  end  of  the  promenade  the  rocky 
hill-side  to  the  north,  surmounted  by  Vista  Rock  at 
its  highest  point,  comes  in  full  view;  and  on  this 
rock  it  will  be  generally  conceded  a  tower  should  be 
erected — but  by  no  means  a  large  one,  or  the  whole 


*  Note,  1868. — This  ground  still  remains  vmimproved,  it  being  the  intention  to  develop 
the  idea  referred  to  in  the  report,  although  the  plans  for  the  structure  are  not  yet  finally- 
decided  on. 


4 


26 


scale  of  the  view  will  be  destroyed.^'"  To  the  north 
and  north-west  of  the  promenade,  a  tract  of  low 
ground  is  proposed  to  be  converted  into  the  skat- 
ing pond  called  for  in  our  instructions;  and  the 
picturesque  scenery  ])etween  Vista  Rock  and  the 
l^romenade  will  thus  be  heightened  in  effect,  when 
seen  from  the  south  side  of  this  lake,  of  about  14 
acres.  A  terrace  approach,  as  shown  on  the  ]3lan, 
and  on  study  'No.  3,  is  proposed,  from  the  avenue  to 
the  water  f  This  feature,  although  by  no  means  ab- 
solutely necessary,  would  add  much  to  the  general 
effect,  and  could  be  introduced  at  any  future  time, 
if  it  is  jjreferred  at  present  to  treat  the  ground  oc- 
cupied by  it  in  a  less  artificial  style. 

Immediately  in  the  vicinity  of  Yista  Rock  is  the 
south  wall  of  the  present  reservoir.  This  wall  oc- 
cupies the  whole  of  the  middle  of  the  park,  and  is 
a  blank,  uninteresting  object,  that  can  in  no  way  be 
made  particularly  attractive.  We  have  therefore, 
thought  it  necessary  to  ])ear  this  in  mind  in  arrang- 
ing the  general  jAiin,  and  have  given  a  direction  to 
the  lines  of.  drive  leading  this  way  from  the  lower  part 
of  the  park,  that  will  enable  them  to  avoid  the  wall 
of  the  reservoir  altogether.;};    The  necessity  for  doing 

*  Note,  18(58. — The  foundations  for  this  work  were  commenced  last  season  on  a  rocky 
promontory  which  formed  a  part  of  the  Croton  reservoir  inclosure  when  it  was  expected  to 
be  bounded  by  street  lines,  but  which  has  lately  been  added  to  the  park  territory,  in 
accordance  with  our  suggestion. 

+  Note.  18(58. — The  architectural  treatment  of  the  terrace  approach  has  been  developed 
in  detail  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  but  much  of  the  intended  effect  still  remains 
to  be  realized. 

i  Note,  18(58.— In  execution,  the  lines  have  been  carried  out  as  here  indicated,  and  as 
the  trees  grow  up  the  old  square  reservoir  is  less  and  less  thought  of  as  an  obstruc- 
tion in  the  composition. 


27 


tMs  has  induced  us  to  commence  diverting  the  lines 
of  drive  at  the  south  end  of  the  grand  promenade, 
which  seems  to  offer  a  sufficient  reason  for  so  doing, 
and  to  lead  them  afterwards  on  their  northerly  course 
in  such  a  way  that  they  may  pass  naturally  to  the 
east  and  west  of  the  reservoir.  If  any  drive  pro- 
ceeded in  the  direction  of  the  line  of  avenue,  and  at 
once  crossed  the  ground  proj^osed  to  be  occujDied  by 
the  lake,  the  reservoir  would  ine^dtably  Ijecome  the 
terminal  feature  of  the  lower  part  of  the  park,  and 
this  would  l>e  disagreealjle.  The  skating  pond  will 
offer  a  sufficiently  natural  barrier  to  this  direct  mode 
of  proceeding,  and  will  furnish  a  reason  for  locating 
the  promenade  in  its  proposed  position,  and  also  for 
terminatino'  it  where  sus^o-ested:  and  bv  carrvins^  a 
road  along  the  edge  of  the  water,  an  opportunity 
will  be  given  to  lengthen  out  the  drive  commanding 
the  principal  views  in  this  vicinity ;  the  lake  will 
also  help  to  give  a  retired  and  agreeable  character 
to  the  hill-side  T)eyoiid,  Avliich  is  well  adapted  for 
pic-nic  parties  and  pleasant  strolls.  Even  if  the  reser- 
voir did  not  occur  in  its  present  position,  the  confor- 
mation of  the  ground  is  such  that  the  roads  would 
naturally  take,  to  a  considerable  extent,  the  di- 
rection indicated,  leaving  the  centre  of  the  park 
undivided  by  a  drive. 

The  management  of  the  ground  l^etween  the  skat- 
ing pond  and  Vista  Rock'^  appears  to  l:>e  indicated 
by  its  form  and  the  character  of  its  2:)resent  growth. 
It  is  well  sheltered,  and  laro-e  masses  of  rock  occur 

*  IsoTE,  1868.— The  ground  here  referred  to  is  now  called    The  Ramble." 


28 


at  intervals.  The  soil  is  moist,  and  altogether  re- 
markably well  adapted  to  what  is  called  in  Europe 
an  American  garden,  that  is,  a  ground  for  the 
sj)ecial  cultivation  of  hardy  plants  of  the  natural 
order  Ericacsei,  consisting  of  rhododendrons,  an- 
dromedas,  azaleas,  kalmias,  rhodoras,  (fee.  ^  The 
present  growth,  consisting  of  sweet-gum,  spice- 
bush,  tulip-tree,  sassafras,  red-maple,  black-oak,  aza- 
lea, andromeda,  (fee,  is  exceedingly  intricate  and 
interesting.  The  ground  is  at  present  too  much  en- 
cumbered with  stone,  and  with  various  indifferent 
plants.f  By  clearing  these  away,  and  carefully  leav- 
ing what  is  valuable;  by  making  suitable  paths, 
planting  abundantly,  as  above  suggested,  and  intro- 
ducing fastigiate  shrubs  and  evergreens  occasionally, 
to  prevent  a  monotony  of  bushes,  the  place  may  be 
made  very  charming.  Where  the  hill-side  approaches 
the  lake,  sufficient  openings  are  proposed  to  be  left 
for  occasional  glimpses,  or  more  open  views,  of 
the  water;  and  glades  of  fine  turf  are  intended  to 
occur  at  favorable  intervals,  so  as  to  offer  pleasant 
spots  for  rest  and  recreation. 

To  the  east  and  south-east  of  the  present  reservoir, 
the  general  conformation  of  the  surface  continues  to 
be  of  the  same  easy,  undulating  character 

Playground.  />i  i  i 

as  that  to  the  east  oi  the  promenade,  and 
can  be  treated  in  a  similar  manner.  The  whole  space 
is  intended  to  be  occupied  with  stretches  of  well- 

*  Note,  1868. — This  suggestion  has  been  partially  realized  but  yet  remains  to  be  fully 
developed. 

t  Note,  1868. — Many  of  these  which  we  have  marked  for  removal,  have  hitherto,  for 
various  reasons,  been  allowed  to  remain. 


29 


kejDt  turf,  witli  fine  groups  and  single  trees,  so  planted 
tliat  they  may  apj)ear  to  advantage,  and  not  crowd 
eacli  other.  That  portion  which  is  immediately  east 
of  the  reservoir  is  set  apart  for  one  of  the  play- 
grounds and  in  the  strip  of  land  between  the  main 
drive  and  the  reservoir  wall,  a  reserved  o-arden  is 
provided  for,  with  gardener^s  house  attached ;  this 
will  be  needed  in  connection  with  the  flower-garden 
already  described.  On  the  west  side  of  the  reservoir 
the  ground  is  of  an  irregular  character,  which  contin- 
ues past  the  old  and  new  reservoirs  to  the  upper  end 
of  the  site.  The  spaces  remaining  for  park  use  will, 
however,  be  so  much  contracted  ])y  the  reservoir 
walls  and  embankments,  that  extended  landscape 
effects  are  out  of  the  question.  It  is  intended,  there- 
fore, as  the  soil  and  situation  are  adapted  to  the 
purpose,  to  arrange  in  this  locality  a  ^-i^ter 
winter  drive  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in 
length,  and  to  plant  somewhat  thickly  with  ever- 
greens, introducing  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs  oc- 
casionally, to  relieve  the  monotony  of  effect  that 
otherwise  might  occur.  Large  open  glades  of  grass 
are  introduced  among  these  plantations  of  evergreens, 
as  the  effect  aimed  at  is  not  so  much  that  of  a  d]'ive 
through  a  thick  forest,  crowded  Avith  tall  spindling 
trees,  as  through  a  richly  wooded  country,  in  which 
the  single  trees  and  coj^ses  have  had  plenty  of  s]3ace 

*  Note,  1868.— This  tract  of  ground  is  now  recommended  as  the  site  for  the  formal 
flower  garden  in  connection  with  a  group  of  architectural  structures  that  wiU  include 
music-hall,  art  galleries,  horticultural  and  other  museums,  and  refreshment  rooms  on  a 
liberal  scale ;  the  intention  of  allowing  military  exercises  on  the  park  having  been 
abandoned,  and  the  Green  serving  the  purpose  of  the  plaj'groimd  above  proposed. 


for  developing  tlieir  distinctive  cliaracteristics  to 
advantage.'''' .  Immediately  soutli  and  west  of  tlie 
present  reservoir,  terraces  liave  been  already  formed, 
and  these  can  readily  be  converted  into  continuous 
Berceau  arbors,  or  berceau  walks.  Access  will 
walks.  -j.|^^g  provided  to  all  the  gates  of  the 
reservoir,  and  the  wall  will  itself  be  planted  out. 
The  effect  of  these  closely  shaded  walks  will  also,  it 
is  conceived,  offer  an  agreeable  contrast  to  the  views 
obtainable  from  Vista  Rock,  in  the  immediate  vici- 
nity.f  In  the  northern  section  of  this  locality,  and 
in  connection  with  one  of  the  transverse  roads, 
will  be  found  the  house  of  the  Superintendent,  the 
Police  office  of  the  Commission,  the  |)olice  station, 
station.  ^^^^  otlier  necessary  buildings,  such  as 
stables,  <foc.  The  site  is  not  far  from  the  one  at 
present  occupied  by  the  police,  and  is  thought  to  be 
well  suited  for  its  purpose.  By  making  a  private 
entrance  along  the  wall  of  the  reservoir,  the  whole 
establishment  can  be  immediately  connected,  by 
means  of  the  transverse  road,  with  the  city  streets,  and 
at  the  same  time  be  central  and  elevated  without  being 
unpleasantly  prominent.  It  is  i:)roposed,  as  will  be  seen 
on  the  plan,  to  make  short  connections  from  the  park 
roads  to  the  transverse  thoroughfare  north  of  the 
present  reservoir,  so  as  to  admit  of  visitors  shortening 
the  drive  in  this  way  if  preferred. 

The  new  reservoir,  with  its  high  banks,  will  take 
up  a  great  deal  of  room  in  the  park,  and  although  it 


*  Note,  1868,— These  plantations  have  been  made  as  designed. 

t  Note,  18()8.— The  idea  of  the  berceau  walk  has  been  carried  out  in  execution  on  the 
south  side  of  the  reservoir. 


31 


will  offer  a  large  sheet  of  water  to  the  view,  it  will 
be  at  too  high  a  level  to  become  a  land-  Reservoir 
scape  attraction  from  the  ordinary  drives 
and  Avalks.  It  is  suggested,  therefore,  that  all 
round  it  a  ride  shall  be  constructed,  and  carefully 
prepared  for  this  purpose  only  ;  and  although  this 
feature  may  l)e  somewhat  costly  in  the  first  in- 
stance, it  is  conceived  that  the  result  would  be 
worth  the  outlay,  for  the  sake  of  its  advantages 
as  a  ride  over  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  command- 
ing the  view  of  the  reservoir,  and  uninterfered  with 
by  the  regular  drives,  although  in  connection  with 
them  at  different  points.'^ 

On  the  east  of  the  new  reservoir,  the  park  is 
diminished  to  a  mere  passage-way  for  connection, 
and  it  will  be  difficult  to  obtain  an  asrreeable  effect 
in  this  part  of  the  design,  unless  some  architectural 
character  is  given  to  it.  It  is  not  recommended, 
however,  to  attempt  any  such  effect  immediately,  or 
out  of  the  funds  of  the  Commission,  l)ut  to  accept 
the  hio^i  bank  of  the  reservoir  as  a  barrier  to  the 
west,  for  a  few  years ;  because  it  is  thought  that  as 
soon  as  this  part  of  the  city  is  built  up  to  any 
considerable  extent,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  obtain 
an  enriched  architectural  effect,  appropriate  to  the  pur- 
pose, without  expense  to  the  Commission.  An  arcade, 
100  feet  deep,  could  be  substantially  built^  and  the 
drive  could  be  carried  above  this  arcade  on  a  level  with 
the  reservoir,  and  overlooking  Fifth  avenue,  the  re- 


*  Note,  1868.— In  execution  the  design  of  this  separate  bricUe  road  has  been_much 
amplified. 


32 


mainder  of  tlie  groundbeing filled  in ;  audit  is  thouglit 
that  as  this  arcade  may  be  lighted  from  the  rear,  and 
will  face  a  fashionable  thorong-hfare,  it  will  offer,  at 
no  distant  period,  very  valuable  lots  for  stores,  or 
other  purposes ;  and  as  it  is  a  third  of  a  mile  in  ex- 
tent, it  may  be  a  source  of  revenue,  in  rent,  to  the  park 
fund,  instead  of  a  burden  on  it."^ 

The  north-westerly  jDortion  of  the  park,  above  the 
new  reservoir,  is  planned  very  simply,  in  accordance 

Tower  on  witli  wliat  wc  coucelvc  to  be  the  sugges- 
Bogardus  Hill.  ^^^^^  ^£  ^^le  grouud.  The  evergreen  drive 
is  continued  nearly  to  the  foot  of  Bogardus  Hill,  and 
then  somewhat  changing  its  character,  turns  to  the 
east.  At  this  point  a  branch  road  crosses  a  brook? 
that  is  made  to  expand  into  a  pool  a  little  ])elow  the 
bridge ;  and  this  road  then  winds  gradually  to  the 
to])  of  the  hill,  which  offers  an  available  site  for  some 
monument  of  j^ublic  importance,  that  may  also  be 
used  as  an  observatory  tower.  I f  as  is  not  improbable, 
the  transatlantic  telegraph  is  brought  to  a  favorable 
issue,  while  the  park  is  in  an  early  stage  of  construc- 
tion, many  reasons  could,  we  fhink,be  urged  for  com- 
memorating the  event  by  some  such  monument  as 
the  one  suggested  on  the  j)lan,  and  in  study  No.  9. 
The  j^icturesque  effect  of  a  spring  of  clear  water,  that 
already  exists  in  this  vicinity,  may  be  heightened,  as 
suggested  in  study  Ko.  10. 

The  central  portion  of  the  upper  section  of  the  park 
is  left  as  open  as  possible,  and  can  be  levelled  so  far 


*  Note.  1868. — In  execution  the  simpler  plan  above  suggested  was  adopted,  and  the 
arrangement  will  probably  remain  intact  for  a  number  of  years. 


33 

as  may  be  required  for  the  purposes  of  tlie  play- 
grounds indicated  on  tlie  plan,  and  on  study  No.  7. 
At  present,  it  is  hardly  thought  that  it  would  be 
necessary  to  make  the  Sixth  avenue  entrance  to  the 
north ;  but  its  position  is  indicated."^''  ^ 

The  north-east  section  of  the  up])er  park  is  shown 
as  an  arl)oretum  of  American  trees,  so  that  every  one 
w^ho  wishes  to  do  so  may  become  acquainted  with  the 
trees  and  shrubs  that  will  flourish  in  the  oj)en  air  in 
the  northern  and  middle  sections  of  our  country. 

This  arboretum  is  not  intended  to  be  formally 
arranged,  but  to  be  so  2:>lanned  that  it  may  2:)resent 
all  the  most  beautiful  features  of  la^vn  and  wood-land 
landscape,  and  at  the  same  time  preserve 
the  natural  order  of  families,  so  far  as 
may  be  practicable.  The  botanical  student  will  thus 
be  able  to  find  any  tree  or  shrub  without  difticulty. 
We  have  selected  this  tract,  of  about  40  acres,  in 
the  upper  angle  of  the  site,  so  as  to  interfere  with 
the  more  special  requirements  of  tlie  park  as  little 
as  possil)le.  The  spot  chosen  is  in  some  measure 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  grounds,  by  a  ridge 
of  land  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  avenues,  and  in- 
cludes the  buildings  on  Mount  St.  Vincent.  The 
wooden  structures  would  be  removed,  and  the  brick 


*  >5'oTE,  1868.— The  postponement  of  operations  in  this  quarter  Avas  recommended 
"because  we  found  that  the  lOGth  street  boundary  of  the  park  required  a  revision,  -which 
could  not,  with  proprietj%  be  urged  when  the  competition  plan  was  made.  The  north- 
ern limit  of  the  park  was,  subsequently  to  the  date  of  this  report,  extended  from  106th 
to  110th  sts.,  and  so  much  of  the  original  plan  as  applied  to  the  ground  to  the  northward 
of  that  here  described,  was  afterwards  modified  in  order  to  connect  satisfactorily  with 
our  design  for  laying  out  the  additional  territory  which  was  approved  by  the  commis- 
sion in  April,  1863. 


5 


34 


chapel  converted  into  a  museum  and  library  of 
botany,  similar  to  that  at  Kew,  but  with  more  spe- 
cific regard  to  landscape  and  decorative  gardening. 
In  the  park  itself  there  will  be  numerous  specimens 
of  all  the  trees,  native  or  foreign,  that  are  likely  to 
thrive;  but  it  is  proposed  to  limit  this  particular 
collection  to  American  trees,  because  the  space  ne- 
cessary for  a  complete  arboretum  would  occupy 
several  hundred  acres,  and  also  because  it  will 
afford  an  opportunity  to  show  the  great  advantage 
that  America  possesses  in  this  respect.  No  other 
extra-tropical  country  could  furnish  one  quarter  the 
material  for  such  a  collection.  In  the  whole  of 
Great  Britain,  for  example,  there  are  less  than 
twenty  trees,  native  to  the  island,  that  grow  to  be 
over  30  feet  in  height ;  while  in  America  we  have 
from  five  to  six  times  that  num])er.  There  are,  in- 
deed, already  over  forty  S23ecies  of  the  largest  native 
trees  standing  in  the  park,  which  is  nearly  equiva- 
lent to  the  nimi])er  to  be  found  in  all  Europe. 

It  is  proposed  to  plant  from  one  to  three  exam- 
ples of  each  species  of  tree  on  open  lawn,  and  with 
sufficient  space  about  each  to  allow  it  to  attain  its 
fullest  size  with  unrestricted  expanse  of  branches; 
the  effect  of  each  tree  is  also  to  be  exhibited  iu 
masses,  so  as  to  illustrate  its  qualities  for  grouping. 
Space  is  provided  to  admit  of  at  least  three  speci- 
mens of  every  native  which  is  known  to  flourish  in 
the  United  States  north  of  North  Carolina ;  also  for 
several  specimens  of  every  shrub ;  these  latter,  how- 
ever, except  in  particular  instances,  are  not  expected 


35 


to  be  planted  singly,  but  in  thickets,  and  as  under- 
wood to  tlie  coppice  masses ;  as  may  best  accord 
with  their  natural  habits,  and  be  most  agreeable  to 
the  eye.  Further  details  of  this  part  of  the  design  will 
be  found  in  the  explanatory  guide  to  the  arboretum, 
submitted  with  the  plan,  in  which  the  proposed  ar- 
rangement of  all  the  trees  is  set  forth  in  order. 

The  leading  features  of  the  plan  have  now,  it  is 
thouo-ht,  been  referred  to.  It  has  not  been  consid- 
ered  necessary  to  especially  particularize  the  different 
trees  j^roposed  to  be  used  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
park.  For  the  purposes  of  the  avenue,  the  American 
elm  naturally  suggests  itself  at  once  as  the  tree  to 
be  used ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  fine  effect 
this  produces,  when  planted  in  regular  lines,  may 
in  a  few  years  be  realized  in  the  Central  Park. 

There  is  no  other  part  of  the  plan  in  which  the 
planting  calls  for  particular  mention,  except  to  the 
south  of  the  skating  pond ;  an  opportunity  is  there 
offered  for  an  exhibition  of  semi-troj^ical  trees,  and 
it  is  intended  to  treat  that  portion  of  the  park  in 
the  manner  suggested  in  the  study.  A  list  of 
the  trees  to  be  used  is  appended  to  the  explanation 
of  the  arboretum. 

The  plan  does  not  show  any  brooks,  except  a 
small  one  in  connection  with  the  pool  at  the  foot  of 
Bogardus  Hill,  which  can  always  be  kept  full 
by  the  waste  of  water  from  the  New  Reservoir. 
Mere  rivulets  are  uninteresting,  and  we  have  pre- 
ferred to  collect  the  ornamental  water  in  large 


36 


sheets,  and  to  cany  oJff  tlirougli  underground 
drains  tlie  water  that  at  present  runs  througli  the 
park  in  shallow  brooks. 

As  a  general  rule,  we  propose  to  run  footpaths 
close  to  the  carriage  roads,  which  are  intended  to  be 
60  feet  wide,  allowing  a  space  of  tour  feet  of  turf 
as  a  barrier  between  the  drive  and  the  path.  Other 
more  private  footpaths  are  introduced,  but  it  is 
hardly  thought  that  any  plan  would  be  popular  in 
New  York,  that  did  not  allow  of  a  continuous 
promenade  along  the  line  of  the  drives,  so  that 
pedestrians  may  have  ample  opj^ortunity  to  look  at 
the  equipages  and  their  inmates. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  no  long  straight  drive 
has  been  provided  on  the  plan;  this  feature  has 
been  studiously  avoided,  because  it  would  offer  oj)- 
portunities  for  trotting  matches.  The  popular  idea 
of  the  park  is  a  beautiful  ojjen  space,  in  which  quiet 
drives,  rides,  and  strolls  may  be  had.  This  can- 
not he  preserved  if  a  race-course,  or  a  road  that 
can  readily  be  used  as  a  race-course,  is  made  one 
of  its  leading  attractions. 


./JUULIUUiJUUUiJUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL  JUUUUUUUUiJLlUUUI  IUuUUUl 


!nnnnnnrinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnr,n,nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnr.nnnnrv 


FIRST  STUDY  OF  DESIGN   FOR  THE  CENTRAL  PARK. 
Prom  a  Wood-cut  made  in  1858. 


^^^^^^^^^^^ 


